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Staging Diva Debra Gould front page story on This Old House Magazine website

By
Home Stager with Staging Diva / Six Elements Inc.

Debra Gould, This Old House MagazineThis Old House Magazine's Senior Editor interviewed me for a feature story "House-Selling Secrets of a Home Stager" which will come out in the fall.

But today, they turned it into their front page story for their online magazine. The story includes 22 pages of before and after photos from my various staging projects with explanations of what I did, what staging cost, along with the sales results for the homeowner. Awesome proof that home staging works!

You never know how media interviews will turn out, so I'm very pleased they kept in my key message that home staging is critical to maximizing a home's selling price, especially in a slower market.

I'm also excited they included a link to the Staging Diva Directory of Home Stagers as I know this will generate more project leads for my network of 800+ Staging Diva Graduates.

This Old House is owned by Time so the editor tells me there's a good chance the story will also be picked up by Time and CNN, which is excellent news for all home stagers.

The more we can spread the word about how critical home staging is when you're trying to sell a house fast and for top dollar the better. 

"Who knew that getting rid of family photos and clearing off countertops could help you snag top dollar for your house? These are just two secrets from Debra Gould, founder of Staging Diva. Gould, a professional home stager, has helped scores of homeowners clean up, rearrange, and style their homes to command top price," says This Old House Magazine.

staging divaYou can see the story on the home page of This Old House today (July 1) at this link (see top left).

You can also go directly to the full story here.

By the way, this photo was taken by Virginia MacDonald, for the magazine. She also shot me with the drill and tulips a few years ago for MoneySense Magazine.

 

Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®
President, Six Elements Inc. Home Staging

Home Staging expert Debra Gould also known as The Staging Diva is president of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company that is frequently profiled in the media in both the US and Canada. Debra Gould developed The Staging Diva Program to create opportunities for others to grow their own profitable home staging, real estate enhancement businesses.

Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Hi Debra,

So happy to hear that the word about Staging will be featured in so many different ways. It will attract different demographics and enhance the overall public knowledge level.

 

 

Jul 01, 2008 05:42 AM
Debra Gould
Staging Diva / Six Elements Inc. - Toronto, ON
The Staging Diva

Hi Michelle, Thanks for pointing out my typo! How embarrassing!

Jul 01, 2008 06:00 AM
No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging
Hickory, NC

Debra, What fantastic news for all Home Stagers.. I am going to check out the website to see your story.. Congratulations on this awesome opportunity... God bless,

Jul 01, 2008 07:30 AM
Kathleen Garvey
HomeSmart Cherry Creek - Denver - Denver, CO
Denver's Neighborhood Expert - Listings & Sales

Congratulations Debra!  I am excited for you and for the exposure this will bring to our industry!  Regards-Kathleen G

Jul 01, 2008 11:40 AM
Julea Joseph
Reinventing Space - Chicago, IL
Julea Joseph House Stager - Reinventing Space

Congrats Debra, and awesome picture too.  I love that they call it "House Stager" too.  Yippee!!

Jul 01, 2008 12:30 PM
Tori Lynn Wallitsch
Prudential Ambassador / Ross Designs, LLC - Omaha, NE

That is absolutely FABULOUS!  I also have to say that the layout of your website is one of my favorites and I am loosely basing my web redesign on your concept; hope that's okay!

Jul 01, 2008 03:25 PM
Jennie Norris
Sensational Home Staging - Littleton, CO
Denver Regions Premier Home Staging Resource,

Great feature - and positive exposure for Staging is good for all of us! - Jennie

Jul 01, 2008 06:38 PM
Margaret Oscilia
Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR
Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Wonderful feature story with fantastic before/after examples.  It is great education for people to understand the broad spectrum of problems that stagers can solve!  Most men I meet give me the blank -duh- look when I say that I stage homes for sale.  This should bring it to their attention in this great article!   

Jul 02, 2008 12:41 AM
Patty Hill, Broker Associate
Local Homes and Land, Inc - Summerville, SC
Local Homes and Land, Inc

Debra, a great big congratulations to you!  This is so exciting to see the media interested in the staging industry.  You deserve the recognition!

Jul 02, 2008 12:49 AM
Gary Barnett
Home Matters - Indianapolis, IN
Home Matters Property Stylist Group, Indianapolis

Way to go Debra, The article was great and the layout is so, so professional looking.  You make it easy for the staging community to view you as one of the top positive influences on our industry.

Jul 02, 2008 12:51 AM
Beth Baker
Deserving Decor - Doylestown, PA

Congatulations Debra! I went through the article online and left some comments to some of the negative comments. I don't understand people who write negative comments. It's one thing to post constructive criticism but some posters are down right nasty! Keep up the good work and continue paving the way for stagers everywhere!

 

Beth

Jul 02, 2008 04:06 PM
Sharon McConnell
Park Ave Homestaging and Redesign - Perkasie, PA
Bucks County Home Stager

Debra,

I quickly viewed this exceptional article before I left for the long 4th of July week end. I submitted a comment on the after photo of the bathroom. Upon returning from my vacation, I was excited to see more comments. However, I was HORRIFIED by the NEGATIVE COMMENTS.  AR members, please consider revisiting this article and post your comments, as I have. Debra deserves our support.

Sharon

Jul 09, 2008 12:33 PM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Debra,

You put an excellent face on the Staging industry, congratulations on your feature in This Old House!

Peace,

Jul 09, 2008 01:05 PM
Irene Woodworth
Color and Redesign Academy & Redesign Boise - Garden City, ID
Color-Redesign-Staging, Trainer & Motivational Speaker - Idaho

Hi Debra ~ Congratulations for this great media coverage for you and the Home Staging industry! This is wonderful news for all involved, too.  I will check out he link later.  You are a wonderful representation for getting the word out there staging really do work and is needed today, no matter what kind of times we live in.  Good for you!

Have a Colorful Day!

Jul 19, 2008 05:13 PM
Debra Gould
Staging Diva / Six Elements Inc. - Toronto, ON
The Staging Diva

Well, I just got back from 10 days in San Francisco and catching up. Thank you all for your kind words and wonderful comments, they are deeply appreciated.

Thanks also to those of you who went to the article to add your comments at This Old House. There are some "annonymous" people out there being quite critical of the benefits of home staging. By responding as professionals you help the general public understand what it is we do and how they can benefit. And, it's a chance to get your own name on this high traffic media site. So check it out at:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20209521,00.html

You'll find the comment box on the right side of the story from that main page as well as the 22 others that follow where my before and after staging project shots are featured.

 

Thanks again everyone!

Debra Gould, the Staging Diva

 

 

Jul 20, 2008 03:51 PM